Why Buy From Orion

Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Take a guided tour of the cosmos without leaving your backyard! The value-packed StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope Kit is a great setup for beginning amateur astronomers since it's loaded with so many great accessories and features a motorized GoTo object location system.

The Orion StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope is the largest of all our StarSeeker IV models, so it will provide the brightest views of celestial delicacies. This smart scope boasts motorized object-location technology and great optical performance at an unbelievably low price. Featuring a large reflector optical tube with a 750mm focal length and moderate f/5.0 focal ratio, this telescope collects a ton of light with its 6" aperture, parabolic reflecting optics for very bright, wide-field views. The entire telescope setup weighs 22.3 lbs. for easy transport, whether you're heading down the road or just out to the backyard.

What's more, the StarSeeker IV mount is now Wi-Fi enabled, which allows you to control it wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet instead of the cabled hand controller! Just download the FREE SynScan Pro app to your iOS or Android device to enjoy wireless GoTo control! The app sets up a local Wi-Fi network between your phone and the mount, so no internet connection is needed in the field. Hey, you use your phone for everything else ? why not use it to explore the night sky with your telescope, too?

This fourth generation StarSeeker telescope features dual optical encoders on each axis of motion which allow you to move the telescope tube either manually by hand, or electronically by using the directional arrows on the GoTo hand controller. To save time, battery life, and reduce motor wear, you can manually point the telescope towards the general area of a target object, then engage the tube lock and use the hand controller to let the GoTo mount finish the fine-centering of the object electronically.

The StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope Kit comes with a great selection of useful accessories:

Two wide-field 1.25" eyepieces are included with the StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector.

The included 23mm wide-field eyepiece provides 32.6x magnification in the 150mm Reflector optical tube, and the 10mm ocular yields higher, 75x magnification views through the telescope for closer inspections of starry skies. Each included eyepiece has a wide, 60° apparent field-of-view to show you more of the target object and its surroundings.

Use the included EZ Finder II reflex sight to help center initial alignment stars when performing the two-star alignment required for accurate GoTo performance. This non-magnifying sighting device superimposes a tiny, LED-powered red dot, focused at infinity, on the sky. After a simple alignment procedure, the red dot shows exactly where your telescope is pointed.

Let the computerized GoTo controller guide you on a tour.

The StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector lets you explore the skies with pushbutton ease thanks to its GoTo hand controller. With a vast database of over 42,000 celestial objects including stars, double stars, galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, and more, the included computerized GoTo hand controller will become your tour guide to the skies. The built-in "Tour" mode will show you great sights on any clear night.

Give your observations a power-boost with the included Shorty 2x Barlow.

Use the included Shorty 2x Barlow with the 23mm eyepiece to boost its magnification from 32.6x to 65.2x, or insert the 10mm eyepiece to double its magnifying power from 75x to 150x for very close-up views through the 150mm reflector telescope. The Shorty 2x Barlow included in this complete telescope kit can be used with any 1.25" Orion eyepiece - it's an easy way to double your magnification options!

Use the Moon Filter that comes with the telescope kit for great lunar views.

Improve your telescopic explorations of the Moon by using the included Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter. The threaded filter is easy to install on the included 23mm and 10mm eyepieces, and its neutral-density filtration will help enhance contrast of craters, mountains, and other interesting lunar features. The 13% transmission filter also helps reduce the bright glare of the Moon to make observations more comfortable.

The Orion MoonMap 260 makes it easy to learn about the Moon's landscape.

With locations and names of over 260 features on the Moon such as craters, mountains, valleys, "seas" spacecraft landing sites, and more, the Orion MoonMap 260 included with this telescope kit is a great tool for all amateur astronomers. The whole family will enjoy using the MoonMap 260 to properly identify all those craters and other lunar features the Moon Filter helps accentuate.

The Orion StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope includes the popular DeepMap 600 folding star chart. This "road map" of the cosmos will tell you just where to look in the night sky to find interesting objects to explore in the big Orion StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope. Color-coded symbols identify more than 500 galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters — including all 109 Messier objects — as well as some 100 of the most interesting double and variable stars. DeepMap folds up just like a road map for easy packing, and it's printed on durable dew-proof material for worry-free outdoor use.

Keep your StarSeeker IV telescope powered all night long.

This complete telescope kit also includes an AC-to-DC Adapter so you can keep your StarSeeker IV telescope's motors powered from a 110-volt wall outlet. The handy adapter is especially useful for long stargazing sessions, since you won't have to worry about running out of battery power. The AC-to-DC Adapter features a 6-foot long cable, and easily attaches to optional extension cords.

The Orion StarSeeker IV GoTo mount and its slanted, single-arm altazimuth design provides 360° of azimuth motion and 90° of altitude motion for horizon-to-zenith pointing. A quick-release narrow dovetail saddle makes telescope attachment nice and easy. The StarSeeker IV 150mm features an upgraded cylindrical leg stainless steel tripod that is much sturdier than previous models and adjusts in height for comfortable use. Tripod stability is further enhanced with the included dual-purpose spreader plate/accessory holder, which keeps the tripod rigid and provides a handy area for stowing idle eyepieces and accessories.

Since the StarSeeker IV 150mm Reflector can locate and track celestial objects with its motorized GoTo system, you can use it along with a camera or smartphone to take impressive pictures of the night sky. Capture stunning snapshots of the Moon, planets, bright deep sky objects and more by attaching a dedicated astrophotography camera, or a combination of an Orion SteadyPix accessory and your own point-and-shoot camera or smartphone to the StarSeeker IV 150mm to explore the rewarding hobby of astrophotography. (Cameras and SteadyPix accessories sold separately.)

The StarSeeker IV 150mm GoTo Reflector Telescope can be powered with household electricity using the included AC-to-DC Adapter, or you can use 8 internally stored AA batteries (not included). A 12V DC auto-lighter plug is included for use of optional 12V DC field batteries.

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-447-1001.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

The Orion Dynamo Lithium Powerbank features a generous 74.88 Watt-hour battery, and provides two USB outputs, as well as an 85W AC outlet. The incredibly small form factor makes this ideal for hiking, camping, and anywhere you need a boost in power!

A great tool for bringing out details in the planets and Moon is this 1.25" set of four Orion Color Telescope Filters. Each colored filter brings out different details in the planets allowing for a totally different view.

Orion offers a rugged, fully padded case to fit just about every telescope we stock. It provides an easy way to transport and store your telescope. Heavy-duty and water-resistant, and fits the AstroView 6 EQ, AstroView 120ST EQ and SpaceProbe 130EQ

If you only get one book to go along with your new telescope, make sure it's Turn Left at Orion! The perfect companion guide, it includes maps to nearly 100 of the best objects, and drawings depicting what they will look like through your telescope.

About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale direct to customers. Now an employee-owned company, we pride ourselves on an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee says it all.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, & reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!

And consider adding our email address (news@oriontelescopenews.com) to your email safe senders list, address book or contact list.
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